- A
90
Why wrong: 90 is the default administrative distance for EIGRP internal routes.
- B
100
Why wrong: 100 is not a standard administrative distance for any major routing protocol.
- C
110
Correct: OSPF routes have a default administrative distance of 110.
- D
120
Why wrong: 120 is the default administrative distance for RIP.
Question 62 of 2,152
OSPF Administrative Distance: Default Value 110
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of device management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
What is the default administrative distance for OSPF routes in Cisco IOS?
Quick Answer
The answer is 110. This is the default administrative distance for OSPF routes in Cisco IOS, a value used by the router to determine route preference when comparing paths learned from different routing protocols. A lower administrative distance indicates a more trustworthy source, so OSPF’s 110 sits between internal EIGRP (90) and IS-IS (115), making it the default choice over RIP (120) but less preferred than a directly connected interface (0) or a static route (1). On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this is a foundational concept often tested in redistribution scenarios where administrative distance influences which route is installed in the routing table. A common trap is confusing OSPF’s default with that of EIGRP or forgetting that the value applies only to intra-area and inter-area routes, not to external OSPF routes (which default to 110 as well but can be modified). For a quick memory tip, think “OSPF is 110—like an emergency number, but for routing trust.”
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
110
OSPF has a default administrative distance of 110 in Cisco IOS. This value is used by the router to select the best route when multiple routing protocols provide route information for the same destination, with lower distances preferred over higher ones.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
90
Why it's wrong here
90 is the default administrative distance for EIGRP internal routes.
- ✗
100
Why it's wrong here
100 is not a standard administrative distance for any major routing protocol.
- ✓
110
Why this is correct
Correct: OSPF routes have a default administrative distance of 110.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
120
Why it's wrong here
120 is the default administrative distance for RIP.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the default administrative distances for OSPF, EIGRP, and RIP together, and the trap here is confusing OSPF's 110 with EIGRP's 90 or RIP's 120, especially since OSPF and EIGRP are both commonly used interior gateway protocols.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Administrative distance is a Cisco-specific metric used to rank the trustworthiness of routing information sources; OSPF's default of 110 places it between IS-IS (115) and RIP (120). In a real-world scenario, if a router learns a route via both OSPF and static routing (AD 1), the static route will be preferred, which can cause unexpected path selection if not carefully planned. The 'distance' command under OSPF process configuration can override this default per route or per neighbor.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
Device Management — This question tests Device Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 110 — OSPF has a default administrative distance of 110 in Cisco IOS. This value is used by the router to select the best route when multiple routing protocols provide route information for the same destination, with lower distances preferred over higher ones.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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